If you are traveling west on I-10, one building that stands out in the Sunset Heights neighborhood is the Sunset Grocery.

Sunset Grocery

The distinctive green and white color scheme make spotting the three story building from the freeway easy.  The bottom store is filled with various antiques and other items but does not appear to be a real store.   I “Googled” looking for any information about the building and came up empty with the exception of a dubious Facebook page. (Update 11/7/2012: I have come across a new Facebook Page that appears to be legitimate and is worth checking out for the history and other photos)

Faded Sunset

The painted signage that was once prominently displayed on the brick facade is almost completely faded away.  The building sits at a off square intersection, so its footprint is kind of unique, I don’t think there are any right angles.

Not square

The apartment entrances are in the back with a few parking spots so if you want your next rental home to be in a historic neighborhood you can give them a call.

For Rent

Full Flickr set here: Sunset Grocery

There is no shortage of antique stores in and around El Paso.  By far the largest and most unique has to be the Whoppee Bowl.  If you do any driving between El Paso and Las Cruces you can’t miss it, its right off the Vinton exit:

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During my last pass I noticed that they had a large airplane in their yard, very similar the the planes I had spotted in Fabens.  Today’s work load was kind of lite so I drove out there to take a look.  In addition to the plane there was a large white rooster, a exact copy of the green one at the lumbar yard.  A curious coincidence or the relics of some long gone chicken chain, who knows?

The building is 11,000 square foot building of hoarding collecting bliss. The owners are in the process of adding a second level to the inside to be able to display more of the wares from the 35 of dealers who rent space there.  Cash registers, wooden statues, old wood stoves, you name it its here. Navigating through the isles was tricky. I had to be extra careful to not smack my camera on some precariously placed antique while walking around.

One thing that jumps right out at you is the very large Nazi flag hanging from the center.  I would think that to be a bit of a liability, possibly alienating some potential customers but hey what do I know?

I could have spent a few more hours here happily snapping pictures but lunch was up and it was time to return to the less dusty confines of my office.  I’ll have to go back but for now you can see what I shot here: The Whoopee Bowl

I was needing to get out of the office for a bit so I jumped in the Jeep and went to check out a drainage culvert off of Mesa Hills. I had seen it in my previous excursion to the area when I almost get trapped on the other side of the Sunland Park Dam.

After parking in the Westside Recreation center, I headed down a path that paralleled the arroyo till I could find a spot down.

Run for your Lives!

Now I have lived in El Paso all my life and I think this is the first time I’ve seen a sign warning about snakes.  Come on! We are smack in the middle of a desert next to a mountain, snakes should be expected.

The Wetlands

The arroyo empties into a large wetland area, that despite the recent Hotter-Than-Hades heat wave, was quite green. I moved on to the concrete spillway hoping to find some interesting graffiti.

Concrete steps

Not so much, just a bunch of lazy tagging.  From here I walked back up to another feeder where I found the youth of El Paso’s favorite passtime: shopping cart stealing and dumping!

No more shopping for you!

“Who” ever did this was long gone but left their mark.  There had to be a skunk near by because this place smelled pretty foul.  Time to head out before I get sprayed. The full set of photos can be found here: Mesa Hills Wash

Its been nice being one of a handful of people in town with a lime green vehicle.  It makes it easy to give directions to your house,

“Down the street and at the end of the Cul-De-Sac you’ll see a lime green Jeep, can’t miss it”

Lime green gets you instant recognition that you belong to a club of people who aren’t afraid of “BOLD ALL CAPS” color.  Well us El Paso Lime Greenie’s will be inducting a new member soon:

He sits menacingly off the freeway waiting for the right individual to snap him up and lay waste to the tread wrapped around the 20″ aluminum wheels.

Come on, you want to join the club. We’ll let you in… the membership fee is only 50,000.

Full Flickr here: Green Meanie

Like any big metropolitan area, El Paso has its share of weirdness. Today I bring you the end result of one really devoted individual in the northeast part of El Paso.

La Casa de Asucar:

This houses perimeter is completely covered on a very ornate and intricate fence that makes no bones about just exactly who this person believes in.

The level of detail is amazing.  I wouldn’t want to be responsible for the upkeep on this place.  I was also quite shocked that there was no apparent damage from vandals. No tagging, no missing heads or hands.

I was left with a kind of Hansel and Gretta feeling after seeing the Sugar House.  What do the neighbors think? Its well maintained and lighted at night but it is a bit over the top.  The Sugar House is a very appropriate name for the religious beacon just off the freeway. More sweetness can be found here: La Case de Asucar